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Kettler Capitals Iceplex to Host 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team Orientation Camp

by
Staff Writer
/ Washington Capitals

ARLINGTON, Va. – Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the official practice facility of the Washington Capitals, will host the 2013 United States Olympic Men’s National Team Orientation Camp from Aug. 25-29, Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee, Kettler Capitals Iceplex and USA Hockey announced today.

The camp is designed to assist in the preparation of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the XXII Olympic Winter Games to be held from Feb. 7-23, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.

“We are thrilled that Kettler Capitals Iceplex has been chosen by USA Hockey to host their 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team Orientation Camp,” said McPhee. “This selection is a testament to the growing popularity of hockey in the Washington area and we feel there is no better place to hold the U.S. Olympic camp than the Nation’s capital.”

Details surrounding the five-day orientation camp will be released by the Capitals and USA Hockey at a later date.

“This is a great recognition of how far we have come as a hockey community in the last decade,” said Capitals assistant general manager Don Fishman. “The Capitals have enjoyed tremendous support from our great fans and our youth hockey programs have continued to grow with record numbers. We are excited to have the opportunity to host the U.S. National team at our practice facility in Arlington.”

The Washington Capitals ushered in a new era for the franchise in 2006 with the opening of Kettler Capitals Iceplex, a community ice rink in Arlington, Va., that serves as the Capitals’ training facility and home to the team’s administrative offices. The 137,000-square-foot facility includes two NHL-size ice rinks with seating for approximately 1,200, office space, two pro shops, a snack bar, media facilities and additional space for special events. The 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training center for the Capitals features a large weight and fitness room, extensive athletic-training and medical facilities, spacious locker-room and lounge areas, a theater-style classroom and a high-tech video room.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex hosted Capitals training camp for the sixth year in 2012. It has also played host to five Capitals summer development camps and the unveiling of the team’s new logos and jerseys in 2007.

The facility is the first indoor ice rink inside the Capitol Beltway in Virginia and just the second facility of its kind anywhere inside the Beltway (Ft. Dupont Ice Rink in D.C. is the other). The two ice sheets offer an estimated 12,000 hours of ice time per year for use by youth, high school and college hockey teams, figure skating, synchronized skating, recreational skating, learn-to-skate programs and hockey and broomball. The Washington Little Capitals, a top tier 1 program, play at the facility as well as the recently developed Capitals Academy Travel teams and Rooftop Hockey House League.

In June, USA Hockey named the Kettler Capitals as one of four USA Hockey Model Association programs.

With the designation, the four organizations have committed to follow the American Development Model (ADM) in full at the 8-and-under, 10-and-under and 12-and-under age groups. The ADM is based on age-appropriate training to fully benefit children in their hockey and overall athletic development.